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Steelers Make Roster Moves

News and notes from Steelers.com.....

Steelers Make Roster Moves

Posted 44 minutes ago

[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/#"]a[/URL]

[URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/#"]a[/URL]

The Steelers announced today the signing of two veterans to their active roster, linebacker [URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/team/roster/brandon-johnson/5e807cf5-e741-473d-bfda-caacc5f155d8/"]Brandon Johnson[/URL] and long snapper [URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/team/roster/matt-katula/e30f64fe-bd40-4ffc-9b72-954bd846c99a/"]Matt Katula[/URL].

Johnson (6-5, 245) has spent the past four seasons (2008-11) with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker. He played in all 16 regular-season games each year with the Bengals and had a career-best 83 tackles in 2008. Johnson was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisville. He played special teams in his two seasons with the Cardinals.

Katula (6-6, 265) previously spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings over the course of his seven-year NFL career. He has appeared in 93 games as a long snapper, but only 13 games over the last two seasons. After being released by the Patriots prior to the start of the 2011 season, Katula spent the last five games of 2011 with the Vikings. Originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005, Katula played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin.

The Steelers have placed wide receiver Connor Dixon on their Waived/Injured List and also released tight end Wes Lyons.

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Steelers add former Bengal Brandon Johnson

Posted by Mike Florio on June 13, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT Getty ImagesPerhaps the best sign that the Bengals have become contenders is that the Steelers are signing their players.
Linebacker [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3954/brandon-johnson"]Brandon Johnson[/URL], a special-teamer who appeared in every game during his four years with the Bengals, has jumped to the other side of the Ohio River rivalry. The Steelers announced the move on Wednesday morning.
Before that, the fifth-round pick in 2006 spent two seasons with the Cardinals.
The Steelers also have signed former Ravens, Pats, and Vikings long snapper Matt Katula.
To clear out two spots on the 90-man roster, the Steelers released tight end [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6568/wes-lyons"]Wes Lyons[/URL], and waived/injured receiver [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7952/connor-dixon"]Connor Dixon[/URL].
Dixon will land on the Steelers’ injured reserve list, unless the Patriots claim him.

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Without the benefit of abundant salary cap space, the Steelers had to take an aim-small-miss-small mentality in free agency this off-season.

After initially kicking the tires of seven-year pro Brandon Johnson, he left Pittsburgh without a contract signed, but that changed Wednesday. Johnson joins a Steelers linebacking corps looking to add depth through experience, and that's what they got in Johnson.

Interestingly, though, he's slated to play on the outside.

Veteran OLB James Harrison is said to have suffered a knee injury, and Jason Worilds has been hampered this off-season with a wrist injury. Johnson, who hasn't played in a pass-rushing role in his previous six NFL seasons, has the body of a 3-4 OLB (6-foot-5, 245 pounds), even without the experience.

Johnson, an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati, has been a solid contributor on the weak side in Cincinnati's defense, and played well on special teams. He brings enough experience to help bolster the inside, which appears to start Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons.

Johnson, the Bengals' special teams captain in 2010, played inside and outside in Cincinnati, and had 83 tackles in 2008. The Bengals invested heavily in the position since then, and Johnson became expendable.

If nothing else, he's a veteran-savvy, versatile linebacker who can contribute on special teams while some of the younger players develop more fully.

To make room for Johnson and long-snapper Matt Katula, whom they also signed Wednesday, the Steelers released TE Wes Lyons and placed WR Connor Dixon on the waived/injured list.